Life and issues on the beautiful south side of the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia, with regular updates. Scroll down for past blogs.
My name is Peter Best. I live in Melville and I've written and authorised all these topics, but not the responses. You are welcome to come with me to volunteer in local places. Please feel free to contact me on 0418 942 476 or add your comments to our community blog. What are your thoughts?

Saturday, 30 November 2013

Silver Screen Heroes

Stardust sparkled in Como this week. A little crowd was thrilled to enjoy the first digital movie at our beloved Cygnet Cinema. It happened because Graham Kahn, the Manager, used his own money to snap up the digital equipment when Perth’s Piccadilly Cinema closed down.

Built in 1938, with gorgeous Art Deco design, the Cygnet has survived many risky moments. During the 1960s and 70s much of old Perth was demolished, in the modernising rush of another mining boom. Local developers have often aspired to build commercial premises over the bones of the Cygnet’s location. More recently the Art Deco Society, inspired by Vyonne Geneve and others, succeeded in having the cinema listed on the State Heritage Register, bringing some formal protection.

Upstairs, in the projector room, there’s some new electronic wizardry. An NEC projector accepts digital files that arrive on a disk. The only sound is from a fan that cools the projector lamp. The 35 mm reels stand idle. There’s no more chatter from the wheels and drives that used to bring up the movie strips, frame by frame. Projectionists will never again experience that rush of panic as tens of metres of celluloid spool onto the floor in a mis-feed moment.

After the show there were lots of comments about the magical quality of digital sound and clear movie vision. It was a little surreal to enjoy this in the plush comfort of beautifully kept, classical cinema seats. Chris Simmons, helping with the installation, glowed with pride when he showed off the system. Chris has worked in thirty five cinemas and lives the dream of the silver screen.

There’s more work to be done of course. The owners are still faced with a large maintenance and renovation task. However, once again, a creative coalition of local people has made a difference around here. Through the energy and imagination of some special people and inspired groups our cinema will bring joy to many for years to come.

When I want to step away into dreamland for a little while, to enjoy a magical moment, you’ll find me at the Cygnet. Are you doing anything tonight?

You can add your comments below or email me and I’ll add them for you.

I’d like to add my congratulations and thanks to a man with vision ( Graham Kahn ) for saving this cinema icon . We went to the Cygnet every Saturday night when we were courting 60 years ago and still go regularly and it is a big part of our golden memories.

Getting the digital projector in that way was good fortune and quick thinking by Graham. Well done to everybody for keeping the cinema operating.

Is the original projector being retained so film can still be projected ?

I found an article about the move to digital and prints no longer being produced but at issue is that some films have not (and are unlikely to be) transferred to digital.

I wonder, like the recent pressing of new vinyl records, whether a resurgence of film will occur for reasons of access to older film and colour and movement available from 25 frames per second (scratches and all).

We've purchased a few new vinyl records recently and it is only because I stashed away our old turntable that I was able to start playing vinyl again.

I hope the old projector can remain in place (even if renovation and upgrades occur around it) so the opportunity to show 35mm film is not lost.

Who am I?

My home is in the City of Melville, WA. I enjoy my community, my neighbours and all that makes this place special. I volunteer as Justice of the Peace. Four years as City Councillor in South Perth helped me to learn more about working effectively with diverse community groups. Owning a local business and working in the Pilbara taught me about long term planning and resilience. I’ve coached local sports teams, worked in Africa and helped local charities in WA. I’ve learned much from the diversity of people in our city.
Growing up in inland Australia, I learned early that when something needed doing it was best to roll up my sleeves and to get started. There’s work to be done here to ensure that future generations enjoy Perth as much as we do. Balancing environmental, social and economic components of our future is important to me. I hope this matters to you too. My family, my friends and my neighbours all tell me they want to feel safe, they want to feel good about the future and to know there’s someone listening to them. Taking care of these needs is what I do. You can call me any time. I feel obliged to be helpful because I have received so much from others.